Tamper-proof closure



July 1, 1969 R. F. HENDRICKSON ETAL 3,452,894

TAMPER--PROOF CLOSURE Filed Feb. 12, 1968 RICHARD F HENDEICKSON RODERKKV KING M MMM United States Patent 3,452,894 TAMPER-PROOF CLOSURE RichardF. Hendrickson, Erie, and Roderick V. King, Girard, Pa., assignors toSterling Seal Company, Erie, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania FiledFeb. 12, 1968, Ser. No. 704,720 Int. Cl. B6511 17/24, 47/36; Bh 11/00US. Cl. 220-27 1 Claim ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The cap disclosedprovides a total tamper-proof design and a convenient means of holdingit permanently on a container until some portion is broken or destroyedto remove the cap from the container. The cap is therefore tamper-proof.According to the disclosure, the cap has a shoulder that overlies therim of the container and a second portion of the cap is crimped orseamed under an outwardly extending downwardly facing shoulder on therim of the container. A hooked rim may be formed to engage the shoulder.Where no downwardly facing shoulder is formed on the container, the rimcan be heat shrunk onto the container or it can be attached by means ofan adhesive. A scored tab is provided in the rim to permit removal ofthe cap which is secured to the container and prevent removal of the capwhich is otherwise fixed to the container.

This invention relates to caps and, more particularly, to caps suitableto be used on aerosol cans and the like.

It is, accordingly, an object of the invention to provide an improvedaerosol cap for an aerosol can.

Another object of the invention is to provide a cap for an aerosol canor the like, which is simple in construction, economical to manufactureand simple and eflicient to use.

Another object of the invention is to provide a cap for an aerosol canor the like which is tamper-proof.

With the above and other objects in View, the present invention consistsof the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fullydescribed, illustrated in the accompanying drawing and more particularlypointed out in the appended claim, it being understood that changes maybe made in the form, size, proportions, and minor details ofconstruction without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of theadvantages of the invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal cross sectional View of a cap for an aerosolcan according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 showing another embodiment of thecap.

FIGS. 3, 4, 5 and 6'show other embodiments of the cap.

Now with more particular reference to the drawings, the cap shown inFIG. 1 is indicated generally at 10 and has a first cylindrical wallportion 11 having a first end 12 and a second end 13. The first end 12is closed by a disk-like closure member 14. An annular portion 15 isfixed to the second end of the cylindrical portion 11 at its innerdiameter and is fixed to the second cylindrical portion 17 at 16. Thesecond cylindrical portion 17 may be spun inward to form curled portion18 which may be resiliently distorted and underlie the downwardly facingshoulder of the cylindrical portion 19 of the can 20.

The can 20 is of the type generally known as an aerosol can and has abreast that extends up into first cylindrical portion 11. The secondcylindrical portion 17 of the can 20 may be formed by rolling, spinningor other suitable process. All of the embodiments will be provided witha scored tab to permit removal as in FIG. 6 at 535.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 2,

3,452,894 Patented July 1, 1969 the cap shown has the first cylindricalportion 111 having an upper first end 112 and a lower second end 113.The first end 112 is fixed to the closed end 114- and the lower end 113is fixed to the annular portion 15. The second cylindrical portion 117is fixed to the annular portion 115. The spaced hooks 118 are formed bybending the lower end of the second cylindrical portion 117 inwardly.These hooks 118 are resiliently distorted by the shoulder 19 of the canand force it downward.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 3, the cap indicatedgenerally at 210 has a first cylindrical side wall 211 having the upperfirst end 212 and the lower second end 213 fixed to the closed end 214and to the annular portion 215 respectively. The annular portion 215 isfixed to the second cylindrical portion 217 and the lower end of thecylindrical portion 217 may be bent inwardly to form the hook 218 whichunderlies the cylinrical portion 219 on the can 220. Hook 218 isresiliently distorted and it engages the downwardly dosposed shoulder ofcylindrical portion 119.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 4, the cap 310 has thefirst cylindrical side wall 311, which is fixed to the closed end 314and to the annular portion 315, which in turn has its outer peripheryfixed to the second cylindrical portion 317. The second cylindricalportion 317 is bent downwardly and inwardly at 318 to underlie thedownwardly facing shoulder on the cylindrical portion 319 of the can320.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 5, the cap 410 has agenerally cylindrical side wall 411 which is fixed at its upper end tothe closed end 414 and at its lower end to the annular portion 415. Theannular portion 415 is fixed at its outer periphery to the secondcylindrical portion 417 of the cap. The second cylindrical portion 417fits snugly around a large diameter portion 419 of the can 420. Thesecond cylindrical portion 417 may be fixed to the cylindrical portion419 of the can by means of an adhesive indicated at 427 and the upperupwardly facing shoulder may be fixed to the annular portion 415 byadhesive 431.

The embodiment of the can shown in FIG. 6 shows a cap 510 having a firstcylindrical portion 511 and a closed end 514. The first cylindricalportion 511 is fixed to an annular portion corresponding to the annularportion 415 in FIG. 5 and the second cylindrical portion 517 fits overthe outside of the rim of the can 520. A scored tab 535 is formed byscore lines 536 and 537 which are formed in the second cylindricalportion 517 and the first cylindrical portion 511 and the annularportion corresponding to annular portion 415.

The operator may grasp the upper end at 538 of the scored tab and pullit down so it breaks the second cylindrical portion 517 as well as apart of the first cylindrical portion thereby preventing the cap frombeing tampered with.

The foregoing specification sets forth the invention in its preferredpractical forms but the structure shown is capable of modificationwithin a range of equivalents without departing from the invention whichis to be understood is broadly novel as is commensurate with theappended claim.

We claim:

1. A cap for an aerosol can or the like comprising:

a relatively deep generally cylindrical cup-like portion made up of agenerally cylindrical side wall having a first and a second end,

said cylindrical portion being closed at said first end,

an outwardly extending annular portion attached to the outer peripheryof said cup-like portion at its second end,

said outwardly extending annular portion being adapted to rest on a canrim,

a second cylindrical portion fixed at its outer periphery to the outerperiphery of said annular portion and spaced outward from said cup-likeportion,

said second cylindrical portion being adapted to be disposed concentricto the side Wall of a can,

said first cylindrical cup-like portion, said annular portion and saidsecond cylindrical portion all being disposed concentric to each other,

and means to fasten said second cylindrical portion to said can,

said can having an outwardly extending cylindrical portion of largerdiameter than said side wall,

said cylindrical portion of said can being fixed to said side wall atthe upper end thereof,

means fixing said cylindrical portion of said can to said secondcylindrical portion of said cap,

said means fixing said second cylindrical portion of .4 said cap to saidcan comprising an adhesive disposed between said cap and said rim,

two spaced generally parallel score lines being formed in said firstcylindrical portion, second cylindrical portion and said annularportion,

said scored lines defining a scored tab,

said scored tab being removable whereby said cap is renderedtamper-proof.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 15 GEORGE T. HALL, PrimaryExaminer.

US. Cl. X.R.

